LATTA, MISS MARY
Neg. No: 9022
Neg. Size: 15"x12"
Neg. Date: 30-05-1923

Sitter: Miss Mary Latta, later Countess d'Antraigues (1899- ).

Miss Mary Latta, later Marquise de Cremayel, later Countess d’Antraigues was presented by her mother, Lady Latta, at the the first Court of the Season on 30 May. The younger daughter of the recently ennobled Sir John Latta, a shipping magnate, Miss Latta wears “one of the most striking dresses of this court”. It was made by F.I. and L. Wilson of Hanover Square, and consists of a shimmering robe of suspended silver bugles and silver cabochons falling in soft cascades over an sheath-like foundation of jade green and a train of jade-green crepe de chine embroidered in silver. It bears some resemblance to the wedding dress worn one year earlier by Lady Mountbatten. The Byzantine style, including the kokoshnik tiara, had been championed most particularly by Queen Marie of Romania who had insisted upon it at her coronation two years previously.

The extant negatives of Miss Latta show off the serene composure of an heiress about to be launched into Society. Her studied poses in her “flapper style” gown play on the pretence of being unaware of the camera and the introspective pose seen here was published in three newspapers of the time. Her ostrich feather fan is probably made up of three very long ostrich feathers dyed to match the colours of her dress.

One year previously, a portrait of her by Lafayette had been published in The Sketch in connection with her engagement to Mr Eustace Robb which was also announced in The Tatler on 24 January 1923.

In 1924 Miss Latta married Maurice Paul Richard Fontaine, 7th Marquis de Cramayel.

After fours years of widowhood, in 1947 she married Count Henri Urbain Chevreau d’Antraigues who had been the best man at her first wedding.

Biog: Younger daughter of Sir John Latta, 1st and last Bt. (cr. 1920; ext. 1945); m. 1stly (1924) Maurice Paul Richard Fontaine, 7th Marquis de Cramayel (d. 1943); m. 2ndly (1947) Count Henri Urbain Chevreau d'Antraigues.

Date: 30 May 1923.

Image published in Cool, published by The Fan Museum, Greenwich

Occasion: The Court, 30 May 1923: presented by her mother, Lady Latta.

Location: The Lafayette Studio, 160 New Bond Street, London.

Descr: FL standing.

The younger daughter of the recently ennobled Sir John Latta, a shipping magnate, was presented at the Court on 30 May 1923 by her mother, Lady Latta.

Her stunning dress, made by F.I. and L. Wilson of Hanover Square, consisted of a shimmering robe of suspended silver bugles and silver cabochons falling in soft cascades over an underdress of jade green and a train of jade-green crepe de chine embroidered in silver. It bears some resemblance to the wedding dress worn one year earlier by Lady Mountbatten. The Byzantine style, including the kokoshnik tiara, had been championed most particularly by Queen Marie of Romania who had insisted upon it at her coronation two years previously.

The extant negatives of Miss Latta show off the serene composure of an heiress about to be launched into Society. Her studied poses play on the pretence of being unaware of the camera and the introspective pose seen here was published in three newspapers of the time. Her ostrich feather fan, held in a delicately provocative pose, is probably made up of three very long ostrich feathers – somewhat in keeping with the fashionable “flapper” style. The feathers are also probably dyed to match the colours of her dress.

One year previously, a 1921 portrait of her by Lafayette had been published in The Sketch to accompany the announcement of her engagement to Mr Eustace Robb.

In 1924 Miss Latta married Maurice Paul Richard Fontaine, 7th Marquis de Cramayel. After fours years of widowhood, in 1947 she married Count Henri Urbain Chevreau d'Antraigues who had been the best man at her first wedding.

Costume: "A shimmering robe of suspended silver bugles and silver cabuchons falling in soft cascades over an underdress of jade green; a train of jade-green crepe beaute emroidered in silver" (see: The Times, 31 May 1923, p 10c).

Costume Designer: -

Costume Supplier: F.I. and L. Wilson, 17 Hanover Square, London.

Jewellery: -

Furniture & Props: Painted backdrop; Louis XV style giltwood armchair.

Evidence of photographer at work:-

No of poses: 3

Copyright: V&A

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Biog: Burke's Peerage; Debrett's Illustrated Peerage, 1985 ed.

Occasion: The Times, 31 May 1923, p 17c; The Tatler, 6 June 1923, p 365.

Costume: The Times, 31 May 1923, p 10c and 1 June 1923, p 18; The Court Journal, 15 June 1923, p 293a.

Costume Designer: -

Costume Supplier: The Times, 31 May 1923, p 10c.

Jewellery: -

Reproduced: [version] The Times, 1 June 1923, p 18; [version] The Tatler, 6 June 1923, p 365; [version] The Gentlewoman, 9 June 1923, p 705.